KUCHING: Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg stressed that his administration has no intention to undermine any national entity in its efforts to change the state's economy.
In his speech at the Sarawak Day celebration held in Bintulu last night, Abang Johari said the issue is currently being played by certain quarters who tried to create the impression that Sarawak is monopolising the natural gas industry.
He added that the amendment to the Gas Distribution Ordinance 2016 (GDO 2016) which took effect from Feb 1 was based on the Sarawak Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 (OMO 1958) and grants Sarawak the authority to manage and develop its oil and gas resources.
"The law has never been repealed since the formation of Malaysia and will remain in force.
"For this reason, Sarawak has the full authority over oil mining on its land, with its first drilling project in the southern Marudi managed by the Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros)," he said in his speech.
Present during the celebration were Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and wife, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, as well as Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
At the same time, Abang Johari also urged involved parties to not continue politicising the Sarawakian's aspirations to participate in the country's oil and gas industry.
This, he said, was as the country's power and resources should be fairly shared.
"Sarawak cannot do everything alone and the smartest way (in going forward) is through partnerships and cooperation with national and international entities to transform the state's economy," he said.
Commenting further, Abang Johari said with the power granted to Sarawak to manage and develop oil resources under OMO 1958, the state government has the authority to manage gas distribution or act as an 'aggregator' in Sarawak through the amendments to the GDO 2016.
"The authority involves distribution throughout Sarawak, whether offshore or otherwise.
"The distribution of gas is also not a new practice as a gas supply for domestic use has been happening under Shell in Miri even before the formation of Malaysia," he said.
In terms of the state's relationship with the federal government, Abang Johari said efforts being put in by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government to restore the state's rights did not mean that the state is indifferent to national interests.
"In fact, my friends and I in GPS have led Sarawak to support the Madani government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as we acknowledge that the federal administration must be stable to face a challenging future.
"I would like to also thank the prime minister (Anwar) once again and his Cabinet for respecting the agreements made by our previous leaders during the formation of Malaysia.
"With this rights' restoration, I am confident that Sarawak can become a new economic powerhouse in the country and the Asian region," he said.
Abang Johari added that Malaysia as a whole could also benefit if Sarawak prosper as the revenue from taxes, including corporate and income taxes are returned to the federal government.
"The rights and privileges of Sarawak are what our founding fathers agreed upon in 1963 and this is not not new demand or claim.
"All parties must respect this agreement as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Reports," he said.